Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-04-29
A SKETCH OF HONOLULU.
Unpaved Streets and Some Modern Im-
provements-Hilo-Ki Kalakaua.

provements-Hilo-ki Kalakaua.
Honolulu has a well sheltered harbor,
with Il depth of about twenty-five feet OF
water over the coral reef at its entrance.
The city stands upon low plain. crescent
shaped, with its opening toward the sea,
about three miles long and one mile wide.
On the landward side this plain is in
closed by mountains of considerable ele-
walton. several of which are extinct vol
canoes. Noticeable among these are
Diamond Head and The Punchbowl,
prominent headlands as you apI roach
the city by water. Honolulu has a
population of $4,000, of which 10000
are natives and 10000 Chinese, ia
panese and South Sea Islanders, and
5000 Americans and Europeans, the
latter English, Germans and Portuguese
mainly. The city is irregularly laid out
Its streets are unpaved, and there are few
sidewalks: hence it is very dusty in dry
and very muddy in rainy weather. 1t is
abundantly supplied with good water,
but is wholly unprovided with any sys-
TEN of drainage or sewerage. The tele-
phone has been introduced, and is in very
general Use.
The residences are widely scattered, are
mostly frame of one story, with broad
verandas about them. and surrounded by
ample grounds lastly ornamented and
embowered within rich profusion of
tropical trees. shrubbery and flowing
plants. Aside from the royal palace, there
are no public buildings having any claims
to special notice. There is a small mu-
scum containing a poor collection of an
cient weapons and other native articles, a
small public library, and the Young Men 5
Christian association has lecture hall
and reading room. There are daily and
weekly newspapers published in both the
English and Hawaiian languages.
The descendants of the early mission
aries now resident here. together with the
better class of Americans who have since
arrived. constitute a highly cultivated, re-
fined and agreeable society, ready to give
cordial reception and generous hospitality
to all visitors manifestly worthy of their
attention. There is another class. quite
as numerous. who neglect no opportunity
to sheer at and uenOunce the missionaries,
and who constitute the patrons of saloons,
gaming places and low dives. of which
Honolulu is by no means destitute Iiilo
on Hawaii is the second town in size and
importance. 1t is beautifully situated
upon Byron bay and contains popula-
lation of between 5000 and 1000. The
other towns are inconsiderablc villages.
King Kalakaua is 80 years of age, is
dissolute and hard drinkcr. and is fast
treading the footsteps of his predecessor,
Lunalilo who died from the effects of
/ dissipation at the age of 80. He had nc
children. The heir apparent is his sis
| ter. well advanced in life, after whom
/ there is a girl II years of age, upon
whose death the royal family becomes
extinct. What is to be the future of
these islands Nine-tenths of all the
most intelligent citizens are republican at
heart. and would rejoice to see the lla-
waiian Islands annexed to the United
States. From their position off our west
ern coast and on the great highway of
commerce between our Pacific States and
Australia China and Japan-as an i'm
| portant coaling and naval station for oul
vessels in the Pacific, it is of the first i'm
portance that they shall not be permitted
to pass under the control of any Euro
pean government. Both England anL
France are keenly watchful, are desirou.
and, no doubt hopeful, of their acquisi
ton whenever a change occurs. Homo
lulu Cor. Cincinnati Commercial Gazette